PRIVY COUNCILLOR. 



previously agreed, (a) that though in general he should 

 cease to plead as an advocate, his permission to give counsel 

 in causes should continue, and that if any urgent and 

 weighty matter should arise, that he might with the King s 

 permission be allowed to plead. Upon this unusual honour 

 he was immediately congratulated by the university of 

 Cambridge. (b) 



Such were the occupations of this philosopher, who 

 during the three years in which period he was Attorney 

 General, conducted himself with such prudent moderation 

 in so many perplexed and difficult cases, and with such 

 evenness and integrity, that his conduct has never been 

 questioned, nor has malice dared to utter of him the least 

 calumny, (c) 



He now approached his last act as Attorney General, 

 which was of the same nature as the first, his prosecution 

 of Mr. Markham in the Star Chamber, for sending a chal 

 lenge to Lord Darcy. (d) 



On the 3rd of March, 1616-17, Lord Brackley, then 1616-17. 

 Lord Chancellor, being worn out with age and infirmities, ^ 

 resigned the great seal, and escaped, for a short interval, 

 from the troubles of the court of Chancery, over which he 

 had presided for thirteen years, amidst the disputes be 

 tween this high tribunal and the courts of common law, 

 and the pressure of business which had so increased as to 

 have been beyond the power of any individual to con 

 trol, (e) 



On the 7th of the same month, the seals were delivered 

 by the King to Sir Francis Bacon, with four admonitions : 



() See letter of 5th July, 1616, vol. xii. p. 196. 

 (6) See letter of 5th July, 1616, vol. xii. p. 190. 

 (c) Mallet s Life of Lord Bacon, p. 19, in a note. 

 (d} Hobart s Reports, p. 120. 

 (e) See note D D D at the end. 



